Skip to main content

UAL Creative Hack

Collaborate and create for positive change.

UAL Creative Hack is a creative hackathon, offering students and recent graduates the opportunity to work collaboratively. Teams innovate, create and present their ideas to address social and environmental challenges and create positive change.

Up to £3,000 worth of prize money is awarded to the most innovative ideas and teamwork.

Read more about the 2024 Creative Hack, tackling London's challenges.

The Creative Hack will take place on 12 February - 14 February at Chelsea College of Arts. Applications are now closed, but you can register your interest for Creative Hack 2026.

Register your interest

Join the mailing list for updates about Creative Hack 2026

How it works

At the beginning of the event teams are formed, who then work together over 3 days to create an innovative solution that addresses a social or environmental theme. Each team pitches their idea to a panel of expert judges who award the prizes.

The themes our teams tackled in 2024 were:

Environmental sustainability

Create innovations and ideas to reduce carbon emissions and waste in London.  Improve the quality of the city environment.

Responsible technology

Explore developing and using emerging technologies and digital innovations to drive positive change, with minimal negative impact.

Social justice and equality

Explore how to help balance the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges. Make London a safer, healthier, happier and fairer place for all.

Support to take part

During the event there will be:

  • workshops and keynote speakers to inspire you
  • access to industry experts and mentors who will support you to develop your business idea
  • breakfast, lunch and drinks provided*
  • potential to win monetary prizes
  • London travel expenses covered for UK students from underprivileged backgrounds (criteria applies).

* availability will vary on different days.

If you have any questions or believe there are any barriers to your participation in this event, or you have any access requirements you wish to discuss, we'd be happy to talk to you. Please contact enterprise@arts.ac.uk.

Eligibility

To apply for the UAL Creative Hack, you must:

  • be a BA/MA student or graduate (up to 2 years after graduation) from any UAL College or Institute
  • be able to attend the full 3 days of the event.

No experience or understanding of business is necessary for you to apply. Just bring a creative and collaborative attitude!

We particularly welcome applications from those currently underrepresented in the creative and digital industries. This includes students and graduates who are:

  • disabled or have a specific learning disability
  • Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic
  • LGBTQ+
  • the first in their family to attend university
  • from a low socio-economic background.

Selection criteria

We'll select participants based on:

  • how connected the theme is to your practice or career journey
  • the proposed benefits you'll receive from attending
  • what you can contribute to and learn from a team
  • creating diverse teams across themes (for example mixed colleges, courses, year groups and skills).

Related opportunities

  • A student in a fine art studio
    Mustafa Boga, MA Fine Art, Central Saint Martins. Photo Alys Tomlinson.

    Pitch It: Creative Enterprise Funding

    Want to launch or grow your own business? Receive funding and business support through Pitch It.

  • LCF Enterprise Challenge

    LCF Enterprise Challenge  

    Calling all current London College of Fashion students! Apply to make your innovative business idea a reality.

  • A drawing machine is creating a piece of work in a room. man in glasses with a shaved head and beard is talking to a women who leans in to listen to him as he gestures at it. To the left, a man in a leather jacket is looking down at it as it works.
    Camberwell College of Arts | Photo: David Poultney

    UAL Incubator: Launch

    A 12-month programme helping students and graduates from Camberwell, Chelsea and Wimbledon Colleges to set up and grow a viable business.

  • Ngoc (Sam) Trieu, Design Management and Cultures, London College of Communication © Alys Tomlinson

    LCC Upgrade Your Future Path

    Student or recent graduate from London College of Communication? Find out more about career paths in the creative industries.

  • Woman with headphones on
    Photo by Errin Yesilkaya

    LCC Accelerate  

    Join a fully-funded programme for London College of Communication graduates and take your creative business idea to the next stage.

  • The Mayor's Entrepreneur 2022

    The Mayor's Entrepreneur Competition  

    Seeking business ideas to make London cleaner, greener and ready for the future. Includes free employability and entrepreneurship skills workshops.

Stay in touch with Careers and Employability

Links

Contact

Email

careers-employability@arts.ac.uk